The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
